Edict of Peace 2
Chapter 2: Dragon and Tripod
Seeing the cloud pattern, Li Guanyi felt ten years of experiences flood back. He’d lived incognito for a decade, constantly hiding, enjoying a deceptive calm. Now, that fragile peace shattered. The cloud pattern reappeared, the stench of blood filling his nostrils. The strong man’s grip was like iron; Li Guanyi struggled in vain.
The strong man supported himself with one hand on his waist knife, his tiger eyes filled with murderous intent, scanning the surroundings. No one dared speak; only the suppressed moans and gasps of the three martial artists could be heard. Their pained cries only further paled the faces of the onlookers.
This was the largest pharmacy on the east side of Guan Yi City’s old street. Three martial artist bodyguards, usually training with millstones—capable of easily cleaving a bowl-sized tree trunk—were now sprawled on the ground, unable to get up after a single kick. The onlookers merely covered their noses and mouths, faces filled with terror.
They only offered pitying glances to the young man being choked and lifted into the air.
Only the manager of the Hui Chun Hall (Hall of Spring Returns) scurried over, a fawning smile plastered on his face. He grabbed the strong man’s arm, shoving a bulging pouch into his sleeve, and said with humble flattery:
“A misunderstanding, a misunderstanding, sir! Must be some misunderstanding, officer!”
“Our Hui Chun Hall is an old establishment in Guan Yi City. We conduct honest business and always abide by the law. How could we possibly harbor a wanted criminal? There must be a misunderstanding! Let’s talk this over.”
“This child is unwell. He might have accidentally taken a life; it’s unlucky for you, officer, to get blood on your hands.”
The strong man roared angrily: “Humbug, you smooth-talking old dog! Are you saying this grandpa is wronging you?”
He flung Li Guanyi away, then snatched the bulging money bag, stuffing it into his own robe. Perhaps the hefty bribe worked; Li Guanyi didn’t crash into the wall but landed on a table. The solid wood table cracked, and the young man fell heavily to the ground.
A flash of crimson light erupted from the bronze tripod in his chest. Li Guanyi felt a sharp pain in his back, though not in his vital organs. His back must be bruised and swollen. He managed to roll over, hiding his face, a sudden sense of relief washing over him—
They weren’t looking for him.
The manager pleaded and begged, even mentioning his connections to influential figures in the city, but to no avail. The strong man raised a hand, and his men, like madmen, stormed into the Hui Chun Hall, ransacking the place. Medicine cabinets were overturned.
In the space of a single incense stick, the Hui Chun Hall was in utter chaos. Piles of various medicines lay scattered on the floor, their scents mingling. Every room was thoroughly searched. The pharmacists and doctors were ashen-faced and weak-kneed, speechless with fear.
Li Guanyi lay on the ground, watching a young man enter.
The strong man immediately stepped forward, bowing deeply: “Sir.”
The young man waved his hand dismissively. His spotless boots stepped over Li Guanyi, as if disgusted by the scattered medicinal herbs, and his foot landed squarely on the young man’s back. The already bruised and swollen back was wracked with excruciating pain, yet Li Guanyi remained silent.
The young man’s clothes were clean and luxurious; his right sleeve fell, revealing a dense white cloud pattern. He said indifferently:
“Nothing found?”
The strong man respectfully replied: “We’ve searched several times; nothing.”
The old manager offered a nervous smile.
The young man didn’t even look at him, simply nodding. He said calmly: “The culprit is cunning, shop manager…”
The old manager hastily replied: “Yes, yes, sir, command me.”
The young man took out a scroll, sharply unfurling it: “Have you seen this man?”
The old manager peered closely. The scroll depicted a middle-aged man with curly hair, fierce eyes, and a commanding presence even in the painting; he looked like a human dragon. The old manager trembled, involuntarily stammering: “No, no, I don’t recognize him…”
The young man looked at him, a flicker of light in his eyes—he used a secret technique to confirm the manager hadn’t seen this man.
He slightly lifted his chin, and the strong man tossed a piece of paper over, shouting:
“Bring me all the medicines listed here!”
The young man said calmly: “The fugitive is wounded and needs these medicines for treatment.”
“The government is requisitioning your supplies. Once the culprit is apprehended, they will be returned in full.”
The old manager inwardly groaned; the government wouldn’t return the medicine. But seeing the strong man’s ferocity, he dared not retort. He let them take the medicines—not just regular herbs, but also precious tonics like ginseng and ganoderma, leaving the old manager to fume silently.
The young man in the black robe with cloud patterns walked out, the strong man following closely, assisting him onto his horse. He surveyed the surroundings, then nailed the scroll to the signboard of the Hui Chun Hall, the picture unfolding. He announced loudly: “This man is a major wanted criminal, attempting prison break! Anyone who discovers his whereabouts will receive a reward of five hundred taels of silver!”
(A tael is a unit of weight for silver; five hundred taels represented a significant sum of money.)
A huge reward!
The onlookers immediately realized this must be a truly dangerous criminal. What prison break warranted such a high reward? Regardless, he was undoubtedly extremely dangerous.
The group departed as swiftly as they arrived, heading for another pharmacy.
The strong man, running like a horse, chuckled beside the young man: “Sir, you are brilliant! That thief is badly wounded and needs these medicines to recover. Let’s empty every pharmacy in the surrounding cities! Ha ha ha! Let’s see how he heals; he won’t need our help.”
The young man said calmly: “Yue Qianfeng is a peerless martial artist, possessing the Dragon and Tiger Law Physique, ranked 42nd on the Law Physique list.”
“Even if he’s injured by the Great General and the contemporary female sword immortal of Luzhou Jianlu (Luzhou Sword Hermitage) working together, he won’t die easily.”
“Besides, the long-distance tracking dogs have been dispatched.”
The strong man was momentarily stunned, then suddenly understood, laughing: “So that’s it! We publicly confiscate the medicines to force Yue Qianfeng out. If he comes out, good. If he hesitates and hides, the tracking dogs will find him!”
The young man said: “And a third reason.”
The strong man listened attentively.
The young man slowly replied: “The prefecture office is short on medicine.”
He sat high on his horse, overlooking the bustling crowd: “We protect the people. Without us, how could they live comfortably?”
“Just borrowing a bit.”
“This is a perfect opportunity; it saves us the trouble of finding another excuse. These commoners can serve our purpose; it is an honor for them to contribute to the country.”
…
“Ouch, it hurts.”
“Ouch—gently, gently…”
“It hurts!”
Inside the Hui Chun Hall, groans echoed. Some were cleaning up, others helping the three martial artists to their feet. Old Doctor Chen helped Li Guanyi up, sighing at the boy’s bruised back: “You’re badly bruised, but luckily no internal injuries. Fortunate.”
“I’ll prescribe some ointment; apply it, and it’ll heal faster.”
Li Guanyi winced in pain, making Old Doctor Chen chuckle.
The doctor’s smile faded as he looked outside. “Alas…they were so aggressive. I’m afraid every pharmacy and clinic in the city will be ravaged. I wonder who this charade is for?”
Li Guanyi said: “As long as it doesn’t involve us, it’s fine.”
The old doctor sighed: “Yes, these imperial officers are always so tyrannical. Look at these herbs—they’re all for qi cultivation and calming the mind. This has nothing to do with the fugitive; they simply need medicines for their own cultivation and are preying on us.”
Li Guanyi took the medicine from the doctor, whispering:
“Doctor Chen, many ears are listening.”
The old man stopped talking, adding some restorative herbs to the boy’s prescription, patted his shoulder, and busied himself.
The customers of Hui Chun Hall had all left; the atmosphere was heavy. Li Guanyi, injured, returned home. On his way, he bought a roasted chicken, a jug of old wine, and some steamed buns. He walked slowly; his house was in a secluded area, and he took a less-traveled path.
He stopped before a dilapidated mountain god temple.
The bronze tripod in Li Guanyi’s chest began to heat up slightly.
The crimson jade liquid within the bronze tripod’s imprint gradually accumulated. The coldness of the poison was expelled, replaced by healthy vitality. The bronze tripod glowed faintly, an energy flowing into his eyes, allowing him to see certain things with his naked eyes.
He looked up, a pale green light in his eyes. Above the mountain god temple, a creature beyond the ordinary was slowly circling.
Crimson scales shimmered with cloud patterns, quietly resting, the clouds seemingly connected to the sky. Beneath it lay the city, scholars riding horses, shy beauties, the steady beat of horses’ hooves on an ancient road, a doctor shaking his head, and children laughing and running. All were subservient to this majestic being.
It was so enormous, so calmly gazing down at the small boy before the temple.
A dragon.
Li Guanyi steadied himself, feeling the jade liquid gradually accumulating in the bronze tripod’s imprint.
He lowered his head, ignoring the dragon, and entered the nearly deserted mountain god temple. In the dilapidated temple, his gaze fell on an almost imperceptible spot at the edge.
A beggar sat there. He possessed a stature far beyond that of an ordinary beggar, his ragged clothes stained, his eyes closed, his eyebrows unruly, his back straight, his large hands resting on his knees, his beard and hair blowing in the wind; he sat calmly, like a silent tiger in the night.
He was identical to the man in the portrait on the Hui Chun Hall’s signboard.
(End of Chapter)
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